International conference organised by Paris-Sorbonne university and the Institut de Recherche en Musicologie (CNRS UMR 8223), in collaboration with MUSIDANSE (EA 1572 – University Paris 8) and the SARC-EHESS (CNRS UMR 8566), with the support of the Centre culturel Hellénique à Paris, of the Fondation Hellénique, and the Institute for Educational Policy of Greece

Outline

Born in 1925, Mikis Theodorakis is undoubtedly the most popular Greek composer of his time. A leftist politically-committed thinker and poet, he has also been Minister and a Member of the Greek Parliament, but above all he features as an activist for peace and democracy. His work, actions and thoughts had a significant impact on the social and political struggles that marked the second half of the twentieth century. Artistically speaking, his activities aimed at fostering a Greek contemporary music that would combine both art music and popular music devices.

His action begins during the Second World War. Since then, the name of Theodorakis remains anchored in the Greek political life, through the civil war, the organisation of the “Lamprakis Youth”, the military dictatorship and, more recently, the creation of the “Movement of Independent Citizens Spitha” (“Spark”).

Music and politics – two complementary commitments that characterize his life and personality – created a charismatic aura that rapidly exceeded the Greek boundaries, propelling him as the “Voice of Greece” throughout the world. Since his youngest years, Theodorakis got involved in the defence of great humanistic ideals such as Freedom, Peace, and Democracy; mobilization and revolt were encouraged and emulated through both his writings and his music. Thus, his artistic choices also bear the stamp of a highly personal commitment. In his work, Theodorakis defends the access for the common people to sophisticated poetic and musical genres, which were then perceived as exclusively intended to a social elite. Conversely, he also advocates the introduction of popular instruments (such as the bouzouki) and popular styles (such as the rebetiko) into Western classical genres.

A prolific composer, Theodorakis has a thousand melodies to his credit, many of which became extremely popular, creating the very particular and fruitful genre of the entechno (an erudite-popular Greek song). He has also penned symphonic and chamber music works, as well as several hymns and oratorios, more than ten ballets, five operas, and over fifty incidental music and film music scores.

Imprisoned, tortured and exiled due to many of his political commitments, Mikis Theodorakis has suffered in his flesh. It is from France, a country that hosted him in 1970, that he organized his political and musical actions against the Greek military junta. A first stay in Paris two decades earlier (1950s) had led him notably to the Paris Conservatoire, in the classes of Olivier Messiaen and Eugène Bigot. Thus Theodorakis seems to have a quite singular relationship with France, both as an artist and as an activist.

For many of his commitments, either on a political or an artistic level, Theodorakis was, and still is revered, admired, celebrated ; but he was also criticized over the past decades, sometimes by some Right-wing sensibilities or Left-wing sensibilities, sometimes by a part of the “people” or a fraction of the elite.

Despite its diversity and richness, the work of Mikis Theodorakis has not yet been enough scholarly studied. Consequently, the aim of this symposium is to focus specifically on the work of Mikis Theodorakis, through cross-disciplinary perspectives and, critical and scholarly thinking that has often been static and out of phase with this singularly complex, dense and rich character.

Similarly, delving back into the specific work of Mikis Theodorakis during this time of crisis, and questioning its diachronic value, is undoubtedly the best way to pay a tribute to the composer for his 90th birthday.

Proposed topics (unexhaustive list)

Music and poetry in the work of Mikis Theodorakis

Mikis Theodorakis and his social and political commitment

Theodorakis work within the contemporary musical literature

Mikis Theodorakis and France

Music and dictatorship, music and resistance music and torture through the work of Theodorakis

Paper proposals must include a title, an abstract (about 200 words), and a brief biographical statement. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2015. Proposals should be sent by mail at: ColloqueTheodorakis2015@gmail.com

The decision of the programme committee will be notified by March 31, 2015

Conference languages: French and English. Papers in other languages may be accepted, provided that a translation in French is submitted to the organising committee before June 12, 2015.

Honorary committee:

Costa Gavras, film director

Angelique Ionatos, songwriter, guitarist and singer

Asteris Koutoulas, author, translator and film director

Vasso Papantoniou, lyric artist, director of the Society for an opera house and Lyric art academy “Maria Callas”, Athens

Arja Saijonmaa, singer, actress and activist

Margarita Theodorakis, director of Romanos editions and of the Popular orchestra Mikis Theodorakis, composer’s daughter